CHENNAI: Passengers of an MTC bus had a miraculous escape on Saturday after the bus driver fainted and the bus ran amok down Mount Poonamallee Road in Porur.
The bus hit three motorcycles, a car parked on the roadside and finally came to halt after ramming a high tension electric post. The passengers panicked when the electric cables attached to the post snapped in the impact and fell on the bus. However, electricity did not course through the bus.
Eyewitnesses said the route no. 89 bus was headed to Iyappanthangal and was just opposite SRMC campus at around 2.30 pm when it went out of control and ran amok.
"We heard a loud noise and saw the bus crushing vehicles on the roadside and hitting the electric post. The panicking passengers began rushing out of the bus and as the electric cables had fallen on the bus, everyone feared coming near the bus. But soon it was clear that the wires had snapped completely and no power was passing through," said a local resident who saw the accident.
None of the passengers were injured, police said. The bus driver Jagadeesan, who was taken to hospital as he reported giddiness, was discharged later in the evening. When police asked Jagadeesan about the accident, he told police he swooned while driving and lost complete control of the bus.
"He says he suddenly felt giddy and swooned. But he is alright now. None of the passengers suffered any injury," said a Poonamallee Traffic Investigation Wing officer. Soon after the accident, a police team removed the bus to ensure that traffic flow was not affected on the narrow but busy road.